Relating to: paid preparation time for teachers. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kristin Dassler-Alfheim and 8 co-sponsors

The bill would establish paid preparation time for Wisconsin teachers, defining how it’s compensated and tracked within districts and contracts.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Purpose and intent

Title: Relating to paid preparation time for teachers (FE)

Primary aim: Establish or regulate paid preparation time for teachers. The bill appears to address compensation or scheduling related to time teachers spend preparing lesson plans, materials, and other instructional activities outside of direct student contact time.

The precise statutory language is not provided in the summary, but the focus is on ensuring paid preparation time for teachers, which could imply mandated paid hours for planning and related duties.

Key provisions and changes (as implied by the bill’s title and context)

Paid preparation time: The bill would create or specify paid time allocated for teacher preparation activities. This could be in addition to, or a replacement for, existing compensation structures related to planning time.

Scope of personnel: Teachers (likely certificated educators) in Wisconsin public schools. The bill could apply to district employees or cover bargaining units, depending on the final text.

Compensation framework: If paid preparation time is mandated, the bill would define how preparation time is paid (e.g., hourly rate, salary equivalent, or a defined number of hours per week or per school day). It might also address whether preparation time counts toward contract day length, school year hours, or professional development requirements.

Administration and compliance: Provisions may specify how districts report, track, and verify paid preparation time for teachers, and how disputes or exemptions would be handled.

Who would be affected

Primary: Public school teachers in Wisconsin who are covered by state law, district contracts, or both.

Secondary: School districts and employers responsible for payroll and scheduling; teacher unions or associations representing educators, if bargaining units are impacted.

Potential indirect impacts: Budget considerations for districts due to added compensation for preparation time; implications for staffing levels, school day scheduling, and professional development planning.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction: February 24, 2026

First reading: February 24, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Education

Cosponsors: A broad slate of Republican and Democratic lawmakers joined as co-sponsors, indicating cross-party interest

Fiscal note: A fiscal estimate was received on March 6, 2026, suggesting anticipated budgetary impact would be analyzed

Action history: The bill ultimately failed to pass as of March 23, 2026, pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (a procedural mechanism that effectively blocks passage during that session)

Status and next steps

Current status: Failed to pass in the 2025-2026 session (as of the latest action history provided).

Next steps (if reintroduced or reconsidered in a future session):

Potential revision to address fiscal impact, implementation timeline, and collective bargaining considerations.
Possible alignment with district scheduling policies and teacher contract negotiations.
Stakeholders may include teacher associations, school districts, administrators, and fiscal committees.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill’s provisions to existing Wisconsin statutes on teacher preparation time (if available) or outline potential fiscal implications based on typical pay-rate structures for preparation periods.

Bill